by Elizabeth A. Marion

Created on: July 23, 2010

Telecommuting can be a great time saver and gives freelancers and entrepreneurs in certain industries the chance to work at home. It certainly has its benefits. The stress of traveling, getting stuck in traffic, and stopping at the gas station don't have to be work-related frustrations for the telecommuter. A lot of time can be saved since telecommuters won't need to travel, but telecommuting does not always mean more productivity and it is not always less stressful than a regular job.

The chance to work from home is a dream come true for most people, but working from home is not for everyone. To be productive and successful by working from home requires a good amount of self discipline. No one will make sure the work gets done except you. Some need a more structured environment to complete their work. That doesn't necessarily mean that they are lazy, but being in a work environment can help make some people much more productive. Working at home is not stress free. It simply comes with a different set of responsibilities and frustrations, even though it does work for a lot of people.

Working in an office has its pitfalls, but telecommuting has a downside, too. In addition to the need for self discipline working from home comes with many distractions. Your personal life can get in the way. It's easier to get distracted because you're in a home environment instead of a work environment, even if you try to create a work environment in your home. It's still so easy to get distracted by the TV or the computer or household chores. And you can never really get away from your work even when you're not working. Working at home involves more distractions by nature, so this can be a problem when it comes to being productive even for a person who is self disciplined and can usually stay focused on their work. Working at home will always come with a unique set of distractions that cannot be avoided.

Telecommuting is only right for you if you are self disciplined and will able to get work done despite the distractions that go along with working from home. Getting a work from home job you can't handle won't be any easier or less frustrating than a regular job. Telecommuting is not for everyone, so make sure you are prepared before applying for any job that allows you to work from home.

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